Folks – I want to get into the nitty gritty here on the cedar hot tub experience. I like to call it an “experience” because the cedar hot tub provides such a unique assault of the senses!! – First I know what you are thinking - this all sounds great but “What sort of maintenance is required"?
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"Weekly monitoring of the chemical level should be performed. If the tub has been stained, this should be repeated annually to keep the rich color from fading caused by the elements. Some customers choose to allow the cedar to naturally "gray". This is accomplished by allowing the cedar to be exposed to the elements without any protection."
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That being said - so far you love the product but you are thinking “What is the cost to operate my tub monthly”? From what you can tell this seems like an “Ikea” concept of knock-down furniture – but you want to know “How long will it take to assemble my tub”?
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"The circular construction accompanied with the high insulating value of cedar and our Northern Elements Covers will provide excellent insulation value. Outside temperature and your local electric energy costs (cents/kwhr) are the main variable in cost. Some of our customers run their tubs year round in extreme northern climates (-30 Celsius) (-22 Fahrenheit) and in those conditions are reporting a monthly cost of $50/month. The Chofu wood fired tub is the least expensive, requiring only the cost of wood."
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"The tub typically takes 1-3 hours to assemble, with the seats requiring an additional 1-2 hours. The Plumbing of a tub will take an additional 3-4 hours. Typically this is a weekend project. Time required to construct a foundation should also be budgeted. Remember, Northern Lights can ship tubs fully assembled requiring minimal additional work."
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The problem is that you have heard of all of those rules like spend ‘only a max. of 15 minutes in the Hot Tub at one time’ – you are concerned and rightly so. “What is a safe temperature for my hot tub”? “You wonder if people who have illnesses or medical problems should avoid hot tubs”
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"Typically most people feel that 37 - 39 C (98 - 103 Fahrenheit) is a comfortable temperature, however, we recommend you contact your doctor to determine if a hot tub is safe for your given health condition."
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“Actually nothing could be further from the truth – many physicians recommend spending time in a properly maintained hot tub for anything from stress relief to pack pain!!!”
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That is a lot of water going into that tub – I know I will probably have to change the water sometimes - “How long will it take to heat my hot tub”? You have been to the other sites telling you about acrylic tubs – that is excellent, you are getting informed – but now you need to know “What are the differences between plastic tubs and your cedar tubs?”
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"This depends on the volume of water being heated, and the power of the heater; the starting water temperature also plays a role.. Typically it takes less than 12 hours to bring the tub to full temperature with an electrical system. A wood fired Chofu system can heat a tub in as little as 2-4 hours."
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"Experience! Our tubs are 43" deep, providing a unique soaking effect that is not available in shallow plastic spas. The aromatic smell of cedar coupled with the relaxing soak, and therapeutic massage provides a unique experience."
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Obviously there is some maintenance required to keep the water perfect with all tubs – but “Is a wood tub harder to keep clean?” And now for the big question folks – “Is a wood tub less healthy then a plastic tub"?
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| "Cedar is in fact naturally resilient to decay. It's rich oils give cedar the lifespan it is famous for. Cleaning is the same as most plastic tubs. Typically a light scrub brush with a diluted solution of liquid bleach works well." |
"In 1993 the Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin conducted tests to compare wood surfaces of cutting boards with the plastic equivalents. The assumption was wood would absorb the juices and become a hot-bed of disease. In other words, plastic would be safer. This wasn't the case. Seven species of wood and four types of plastic were tested. All were intentionally contaminated with E-Coli, Listeria and Salmonella. To everyone's surprise, the bacteria were killed within 3 minutes of touching the wood surface. This was not the case with the plastic surfaces."
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